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Inkplate 5V2 – Battery

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This page contains important information about using a battery with Inkplate 5V2. For safety reasons, please read this page carefully!

Inkplate 5V2 has a 2-pin, 2mm JST connector for a 3.7V Li-ion battery. The onboard charging IC, MCP73831, charges the battery whenever Inkplate is plugged into USB-C, and switches to battery power when you unplug it. A charging indicator LED shows the current charging status.

Inkplate 5V2 battery JST connector
JST battery connector
Inkplate 5V2 Onboard charging indicator LED
Onboard charging indicator LED
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Getting the battery polarity right is crucial. Check the markings on the PCB before you connect a battery. With the JST connector oriented so the notch is at the top, the positive (+) terminal is on the left and the negative (-) terminal is on the right.
Battery polarity on Inkplate 5V2
Battery polarity on Inkplate 5V2
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Battery polarity can vary! Some Li-ion batteries have reversed polarity, and connecting a battery the wrong way around may permanently damage your Inkplate. Double-check before plugging it in.

Compatible batteries​

Inkplate 5V2 works with 3.7V Li-ion batteries that have protection. If you bought the Inkplate 5V2 enclosure and battery kit, it includes a 1200mAh 3.7V Li-ion battery with a built-in protection circuit.

3.7V li-ion battery with protection
3.7V li-ion battery with protection

Any of Soldered's 3.7V Li-ion batteries will work as long as they fit inside your enclosure.

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Due to shipping restrictions, we can't ship Li-ion batteries outside the EU. If you're in the US, take a look at Adafruit's Li-ion battery stock.

Check out our battery documentation page.

Charging IC (MCP73831)​

The MCP73831 is a compact, single-cell Li-ion/Li-Polymer charge management controller. It regulates the charging process so charging over USB stays safe and efficient. The chip follows a constant-current / constant-voltage (CC/CV) charging profile, and switches to trickle charge as the battery nears full capacity.

Key features:

  • Automatic charge termination when the battery is full
  • Overvoltage and overcurrent protection
  • Charge status indicator, connected to the onboard LED
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For full technical details, refer to the MCP73831 datasheet:

MCP73831/2 Data Sheet

Official data sheet for MCP73831/2 charger by Microchip